EDINBURG, Texas (Interstat) — In a game defined by a blistering first-half shooting display and a gritty second-half comeback, Texas-Rio Grande Valley held off a furious McNeese State rally to secure a 79-76 victory in a Southland Conference men’s basketball game Saturday night at UT Pan Am Field House.

The Vaqueros, propelled by a remarkable 13-for-27 performance from three-point range, built a 16-point halftime lead only to see the Cowboys claw all the way back to tie the game in the final minutes. A pair of clutch free throws from Zae Blake with 13 seconds remaining ultimately provided the winning margin for the home team before a crowd of 2,119.

The most critical phase of the contest was unquestionably the final 90 seconds, a sequence of clutch plays, crucial mistakes, and tense free throws that decided the outcome. With McNeese State having erased the large deficit to tie the game at 77 on two Javohn Garcia free throws with 25 seconds left, the Vaqueros inbounded the ball under their own basket.

On the ensuing possession, UTRGV’s Koree Cotton was fouled and sent to the line for two shots with 13 seconds on the clock. Cotton missed both attempts, but Blake was fouled fighting for the offensive rebound. The guard from Washington, D.C., calmly sank both free throws to put the Vaqueros ahead 79-77.

McNeese State, out of timeouts, rushed the ball upcourt. Tyshawn Archie, who led all scorers with 23 points for the Cowboys, launched a potential game-tying three-pointer with five seconds remaining that missed. After a scramble, Jacolb Fredson-Cole secured an offensive rebound for McNeese State, but his desperation three at the buzzer was off the mark, sealing the win for Texas-Rio Grande Valley.

The frantic finish was a stark contrast to the first half, which was dominated by the Vaqueros’ offensive efficiency. They shot 61.5% from the field before halftime, including 8 of 15 from beyond the arc, to take a 46-30 lead into the break. Marvin McGhee led the early charge, scoring 17 of his team-high 17 points in the opening period.

McNeese State, which entered the game with a 14-3 record and a 93.6% win probability according to Interstat’s ELO system, struggled mightily from deep in the first half, making just 2 of 15 three-point attempts. The Cowboys’ comeback was fueled by aggressive defense and a decisive shift to attacking the paint. They forced 12 UTRGV turnovers, converting them into 18 points, and outscored the Vaqueros 34-20 in the paint for the game.

After halftime, the Cowboys methodically chipped away at the lead. A 12-2 run midway through the second half, keyed by Archie and Garcia, brought McNeese State within single digits. The Cowboys finally drew even at 77-77 on Garcia’s free throws, completing a 47-33 second-half advantage, but could never secure the lead.

Garcia finished with 19 points for McNeese State, while Larry Johnson added 17, all in the second half. For Texas-Rio Grande Valley, McGhee’s 17 points were complemented by 14 from Jalen Ricks and 13 from Jaylen Washington. Cotton, despite a tough shooting night, filled the stat sheet with 9 points, 7 assists, and a critical late block.

The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for McNeese State, dropping its record to 14-4 overall. Texas-Rio Grande Valley improved to 7-11, securing a significant conference victory against the league front-runner.

UTRGV’s shooting proved the ultimate difference-maker. While McNeese State took 15 more field goal attempts, the Vaqueros’ 54.2% shooting from the field and 48.1% from three-point range offset the Cowboys’ advantages in offensive rebounds (13-4) and free throw accuracy (21-of-24).

McNeese State will look to rebound quickly, traveling to face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Monday. Texas-Rio Grande Valley will host Southeastern Louisiana, also on Monday.